Cherry tree named &#39;royal lydia&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of cherry tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:
         1. Vigorous, upright tree growth.   2. Tree having a low winter chilling requirement.   3. Heavy and regular production of large size fruit.   4. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality.   5. Fruit with good handling and shipping quality.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Prunus avium

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ROYAL LYDIA’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

1. Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuingplant-breeding program including the organization and asexualreproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines,apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It wasagainst this background of our activities that the present variety ofcherry tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in ourexperimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.

2. Prior Varieties

Among the existing varieties of cherry trees, which are known to us, andmentioned herein, ‘Royal Lee’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,417),‘Royal Tioga’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,779), ‘Bing’ Cherry(non-patented) and ‘Earlisweet’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,783), andour proprietary cherry seedling selection ‘48.5GG273’ (non-patented).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present new variety of cherry tree (Prunus avium) was developed byus in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif. The newcherry tree originated from a first generation cross between ourselected proprietary cherry seedling ‘48.5GG273’ (non-patented) and‘Royal Lee’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,417). The seed parent(48.5GG273) originated from a second generation cross between ‘Bing’Cherry (non-patented) and ‘Earlisweet’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,783). A large number of these first generation seedlings were buddedon established trees of ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented) to acceleratefruit production. Under close and careful observation the presentseedling exhibited desirable fruit and tree characteristics and wasselected in 2000 for additional asexual propagations andcommercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

Asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of cherry tree wasby budding to ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented), as performed by us inour experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., and shows thatreproductions run true to the original tree and all characteristics ofthe tree and its fruit are established and transmitted throughsucceeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present new variety of cherry tree is of large size, vigorous,upright growth and has a low winter chilling requirement ofapproximately 500 hours at or below 45° F. The tree is a regular andproductive bearer of large size fruit that has an attractive red skincolor. The fruit is further characterized by its good flavor and eatingquality, firm flesh with good handling and shipping quality. Incomparison to its seed parent (48.5GG273) cherry non-patented the fruitis larger in size and is approximately 7 days later in maturity. Incomparison to its pollen parent ‘Royal Lee’ Cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,417) the fruit is larger in size and is approximately 7 days later inmaturity. In comparison to the commercial variety ‘Royal Tioga’ Cherry(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,779) the fruit of the new variety is larger insize and is approximately 13 days later in maturity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimensof the foliage and fruit of the present new cherry variety. Theillustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, anexterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its sutureplane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place.The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked(shipping ripe) from a 12 year old tree and the colors are as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety ofcherry tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of12 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color inaccordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958.

-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Large. Tree pruned to 3 to 4 meters in height and            width for economical harvesting of fruit. Varies with            different cultural practices.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous. Tree growth reaching 1 to 2 meters the            first growing season. Growth rate varies with soil type and            depth, cultural practices and climatic conditions.        -   Form.—Upright, usually pruned to vase shape.        -   Branching habit.—Upright, crotch angle approximately 30°, a            heavy crop load tends to increase branch angles.        -   Productivity.—Productive, produces adequate fruit set            annually.        -   Bearer.—Regular, adequate fruit set 7 consecutive years.        -   Fertility.—Self-sterile, pollinator required.        -   Density.—Medium dense, controlled by pruning.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of            California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter            chilling requirement is approximately 500 hours at or below            45° F.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Large. Measured 50.8 cm at 30.9 cm above ground on a            12 year old tree. Varies with soil type, climatic conditions            and cultural practices.        -   Stocky.—Medium stocky.        -   Texture.—Medium rough, roughness increases with age of tree.        -   Color.—Varies from 7.5YR 3/4 to 7.5YR 3/2.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 17.3 cm at 1.2 meters            above ground.        -   Surface texture.—New growth relatively smooth. Older growth            medium rough, roughness increases with age of growth.        -   Lenticels.—Average number 29 in a 25.8 sq cm area of branch.            Average length 4.8 mm. Average width 1.5 mm. Color varies            from 7.5YR 7/6 to 7.5YR 6/8.        -   Color.—New growth varies from 7.5YR 4/4 to 2.5GY 6/6. Old            growth varies from 2.5YR 2/4 to 5YR 3/2, varies with age of            growth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average length 160.4 mm. Average width 66.9 mm.        -   Form.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface texture.—Upper surface relatively smooth, slight            indentation over leaf veins, glabrous. Lower surface            relatively smooth, slight ridges created by midrib and            pinnate venation, glabrous.        -   Petiole.—Average length 33.7 mm. Average width 2.2 mm.            Longitudinally grooved. Color varies from 7.5R 2/4 to 2.5GY            6/6. Surface glabrous.        -   Glands.—Shape — reniform. Average length 2.7 mm. Average            diameter 1.6 mm. Number varies from 0-2, average number 2.            Located primarily on the upper portion of the petiole and            the base of the leaf blade. Color varies from 5R 3/8 to 7.5R            2/8.        -   Stipules.—Average number — 2. Average length 11.2 mm. Margin            — pectinate. Color varies from 2.5GY 6/6 to 5R 4/8.        -   Color.—Upper surface varies from 5GY 4/8 to 5GY 3/6. Lower            surface varies from 5GY 5/4 to 5GY 4/6. Midvein color varies            from 2.5GY 6/6 to 5GY 7/8.-   Flower buds    -   -   Size.—Large. Average length 18.2 mm. Average diameter 9.8            mm.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of            California.        -   Form.—Conical, becoming elongated before opening.        -   Pedicel.—Average length 17.3 mm. Average width 1.1 mm.            Color, varies from 5GY 5/6 to 5GY 5/8.        -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).        -   Number of buds per spur.—Average number 7, varies from 5 to            12.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—Date of First Bloom — Feb. 28, 2012. Date            of Petal Fall — Mar. 10, 2012, varies slightly with climatic            conditions.        -   Size.—Medium to large. Average height 21.0 mm. Average            diameter 28.1 mm.        -   Petals.—Size — large. Number — normally 5, alternately            arranged to the sepals. Average length 16.7 mm. Average            width 15.4 mm. Form — orbicular. Margin — entire. Color — N            9.5/(white). Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Number — normally 5, alternately arranged to the            petals. Average length 7.9 mm. Average width 5.2 mm. Form —            triangular. Margin — entire. Color — upper surface varies            from 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6. Lower surface varies from 7.5R 2/8            to 5GY 4/6. Both upper and lower surfaces glabrous.        -   Stamens.—Average number per flower 36, varies from 35 to 38.            Average filament length 12.5 mm. Filament color N 9.5/            (white). Anther color varies from 5Y 8/6 to 5Y 8/8.        -   Pollen.—Self-sterile, pollinator required. Color varies from            2.5Y 7/12 to 2.5Y 6/10.        -   Pistil.—Normally one per flower. Average length 17.1 mm.            Stigma height even with the anthers. Color varies from 2.5GY            7/6 to 2.5GY 6/6. Surface — glabrous.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).        -   Number flowers per flower bud.—Average 3, varies from 1 to            5.        -   Pedicel.—Average length 22.1 mm. Average width 1.1 mm. Color            varies from 5GY 6/6 to 5GY 5/6.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe.        -   Date of first picking.—May 11, 2012.        -   Date of last picking.—May 19, 2012, varies slightly with            climatic conditions.        -   Size.—Large. Average diameter axially 26.3 mm. Average            transversely in suture plane 23.5 mm. Average weight 10.5            grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of            thinning and climatic conditions.        -   Form.—Globose to slightly elongated.        -   Suture.—Nearly smooth, extends from base to apex.        -   Ventral surface.—Smooth.        -   Apex.—Slightly retuse.        -   Base.—Slightly retuse.        -   Stem cavity.—Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane.            Average depth 2.0 mm. Average diameter 7.0 mm.-   Stem:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 31.9 mm. Average diameter 1.8            mm.        -   Color.—Varies from 5GY 5/6 to 5GY 4/6.-   Flesh:    -   -   Ripens.—Fairly evenly.        -   Texture.—Firm.        -   Fibers.—Few, small, tender.        -   Firmness.—Firm, comparable to most commercial varieties.        -   Aroma.—Slight.        -   Amydgalin.—Undetected.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.        -   Flavor.—Very good, good balance between acid and sugar.        -   Juice.—Moderate amount, enhances flavor.        -   Brix.—Average Brix 17.9°, varies slightly with amount of            fruit per tree and climatic conditions.        -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 9/4 to 2.5Y 8.5/4.        -   Pit cavity.—Average length 13.3 mm. Average width 11.5 mm.            Average depth 5.0 mm. Color varies from 2.5Y 8/6 to 7.5R            4/10.-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Bloom.—Wanting.        -   Tendency to crack.—None during dry weather. Only a slight            tendency to crack in wet weather, varies with the stage of            maturity.        -   Color.—Varies from 5R 2/6 to 5R 4/8.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—None.-   Stone:    -   -   Type.—Clingstone.        -   Size.—Medium. Average length 12.3 mm. Average width 10.5 mm.            Average thickness 8.1 mm.        -   Form.—Nearly globose.        -   Base.—Flat.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Surface.—Nearly smooth, except for small ridges near the            suture.        -   Sides.—Varies from equal to unequal with one side extending            further from the suture plane.        -   Ridges.—A small, narrow ridge on each side of suture,            extends from base to apex.        -   Tendency to split.—None.        -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 7/6 to 10YR 6/4 when dry.-   Kernal:    -   -   Size.—Small to medium. Average length 7.9 mm. Average width            5.4 mm. Average depth 4.2 mm.        -   Form.—Ovate.        -   Viability.—Partially viable, incomplete embryo in some            stones.        -   Skin color.—Varies from 2.5Y 9/4 to 5Y 8.5/2.-   Use: Dessert. Market — local and long distance.-   Keeping quality: Good, held well for 2 weeks in cold storage at 38°    to 42° F. and maintained good appearance and eating quality.-   Shipping quality: Good, showed minimal bruising or scarring during    picking, packing and shipping trials.-   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing    for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been    designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and    harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions    near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance    or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection    observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal    fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and    eliminated from our breeding program. The present new variety of    cherry tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit herein described may    vary in slight detail due to climate, soil conditions and cultural    practices under which the variety may be grown. The present    description is that of the variety grown under the ecological    conditions prevailing near Modesto, Calif.

1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree, substantially asillustrated and described.